Read Online Forever An Ex by Victoria Christopher Murray - Free Book Online

from them. “Caroline and I thought it would be better if the three of us discussed this first.”
    â€œFirst?” I asked. My eyes stayed on Bobby as if his wife wasn’t even there. “You’ve already brought Angel into this.”
    But then Caroline forced me to look at her. “You’re right,” she said. “We should’ve never talked to Angel before we discussed this with you.”
    What I wanted to know was, why was Caroline even here? But I kept that attitude to myself because the one thing I could say about Bobby’s wife was that she treated my daughter well; I couldn’t hate on that.
    So, I gave her a half smile, half smirk.
    Then she added, “And I want to apologize for even mentioning this to you on Christmas.”
    I didn’t accept her apology because she didn’t mean it. There were so many other things she needed to apologize for, and she needed to step up and acknowledge it.
    But Caroline didn’t say anything else. So, I just looked at her, smirked again, then lifted my hands to the table. And with my right hand, I twisted the ring on the third finger of my left hand.
    Right away Caroline’s gaze went to where I wanted it to be, and I could see the heat rise beneath her skin. Sure, my ring could’ve been given to me by anyone, but Caroline’s instincts were like mine. She knew that Bobby had placed this ring on my finger.
    I didn’t have her man now, but I’d had him once. And not only was Angel a constant reminder of that, but today this ring would remind her, too.
    â€œWell, now that we’ve apologized, let’s talk,” Bobby said.
    â€œAnd since Angel isn’t here, I can get right to my answer.” I paused because I wanted Bobby and his wife to hear me clearly. “No.” I looked Bobby dead in his eyes. “Angel’s not moving to New York.”
    Right then the waiter walked up and asked if I was ready to place my drink order. I waved him away, though it was hard to do. I was dying to have a champagne cocktail as well as the filet mignon tartare. But breaking bread with Bobby and Caroline was as attractive as getting a Novocain-less root canal. I’d said what I’d come to say and it was time for me to bounce.
    When the waiter walked away, Bobby said, “I think you need to hear what we’re thinking before you say no.”
    I sat back in the chair, crossed my arms, but did it so my left hand could still be seen. I did it so that ring still glittered, still caught Caroline’s eye. And, the way she kept looking at my ring, then up at me, then back at my ring made me think about calling that waiter back. Maybe I would stay awhile.
    â€œAsia,” Bobby began, “Angel has been talking about going to this school for a couple of years.”
    â€œYes.” Caroline jumped in as if I would even consider her opinion. “I think she was about eight when she first told me about it.”
    I narrowed my eyes at her. Really? Angel had told her about that school?
    I really wanted to ask her what was she trying to do. But I knew that asking wouldn’t get me an honest answer, but listening might.
    Bobby said, “What we were thinking is that we would move to New York so that Angel could spend her last year of middle school there.”
    â€œAnd this way,” Caroline piped in, “she would have no problem being accepted at the School of the Performing Arts.”
    Their lips were moving as if I hadn’t already said no.
    â€œWe know it would be hard on you, so we would do everything we could to make sure she came home on as many weekends as possible,” Bobby said.
    â€œAnd we would understand if you wanted her for all the holidays,” Caroline added.
    What were these people talking about? This was my child. I set the rules.
    â€œThe point is, we’d work it so that it would work for everyone. For Angel with school,” Bobby said.
    â€œAnd for